Railway car



Filed March 28', 194e June 10, 1952 6 Sheracs-SheefI l INVENTOR TFranci;- 'T Burqss WMAJM ATToQNe-.Y

F. T. BuRGEss y Y 2,599,606 v RAILWAY CAR n June 10, 1952 F. T. BURGEss 2,599,606

RAILWAY CAR Filed March 28, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Francis T'. Burgess ATTORNEY June 10, 1952 F. TfBURGr-:ss

RAILWAY CAR 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 28, 1946 INVENTOR Francis T. Burgess MAMM- ATTORNFQ June 10, 1952 Filed March 28, 41946 FIGS F. T. BURGESS RAILWAY CAR 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Iruvflm-ORn cis 'I'. Burgess WMM@ ATTORNEY June 10, 1952 Filed March 28 1946 Fla F. T. BuRGEss RAILWAY CAR 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N v :.N To Q Francis 'JT Burgess WMM-M 'ATTO que( June 10, 19452 F. T. BuRGEss RAILWAY CAR 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 28, 1946 Francis T Burgess i MAJM,

' ATTORNEY Patented June 10, 1952 RAILWAY CAR Francis T. Burgess, Maplewood, Mo., assgnor to American Car and Foundry Company, New

York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 28, 1946, Serial No. 657,870

(Cl. 10S- 315) 16 Claims. 1

This invention. relates to railway sleeping cars and has as its object to provide in railway cars of standard dimensions the greatest number of private single occupancy rooms having beds and toilet facilities, consistent with passenger comvfort and convenience.

For passenger comfort and convenience it is desirable. to provide ample head space for the occupant of the room when he is in the standing, sitting, or reclining position. However, an individual in the reclining or sleeping position does not require an equivalent amount of vertical clearance above his lower limbs and extremities.

In this invention I attempt to achieve the .above stated object by arranging the rooms, which are located in the spaces between the partitions dening a central aisle and the outer walls of the car, on two oor levels. To take full advantage of the fact that the lowerV extremities of a person in the sleeping position do not require much vertical space, and to insure adequate and ample head space in the standing and sitting areas of the room I cause the end portions of the upper room to extend above a relatively unused end portion of each of two lower rooms, and utilize the overhung end portion oi each of the lower rooms as a bed storage coinpartment during the daytime and to provide leg room for the occupant of the room when in the sleeping position. The overhanging end portions of the upper room are used respectively, as a seat and for the same purpose as the overhung end portions of the lower rooms.

Additional height is provided for the portions of the car interior in which the rooms are lo cated by depressing the car floor to the minimum height above the rail consistent with standard railroad practice.

. further object of this invention is to provide a bed substantially equal in length to the room for each of the rooms and retractable from the standing and sitting areas of the rooms and adapted to be stored when not in use in the relatively small overhanging and overhung portions of each of the rooms.

The above mentioned objects as well as additional features `of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description, throughout which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a general view of a railway car in-s terior in perspective, and showing an arrangement of rooms and an underframe and floor structure in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a `longitudinal sectional view of three i rooms in a railway car designed according; to the invention, as viewed with an outer AWall oi the car removed;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view `of the same three rooms as viewed with a central aisle partition removed;

Fig. i is a transverse sectional the line 4 4 of Figures 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view takenalong the line 5--5 of Figures 2 and 3; Y

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectionalview along the line E-'E of Figure 2;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 1-1 of Figure 2; f

Fig. 8 illustrates a grooved guideway for the bed of the upper rooms; Y

Fig. 9 illustrates a slightly differentgrooved guidewaylfor the bed of the lower rooms.;

Fig. 10 shows acatch locking the bed inl the horizontal extended position;

Fig. 11 shows the same catch released, the hinges joining the bed side rails open;

Fig. 12 shows a vertical bed guideway,its groove and slide block; L

Fig. 13 shows the lower end of a bed with bearing xtures attached to the side rails and a rod extending through the bearing xtures and having at one end one of the slide-blocks of the vertical guideway;

Fig. 14 is a detail View of aspring buifer provided to initiate upward movement ofthe slide blocks in the vertical guideways;

Fig. 1.5 is an end view of the foot section of the view taken along bed showing a cross sectional view of the curvedguideway and the roller traveling therein.

In all iigures, the `numeral I represents the longitudinal center sill of a railway car which supports spaced transverse members 2 such as I-bearns, both cooperating to form a rigid car underframe. On the upper surface of the upper .iange of the transverse members 2 is laid a narrow door 3 extending the full length of the car. On the upper surface of the lower flange of transverse members 2 are laid depressed iicor sections li, each being the full width of the car. Ceiling 5 is separated from roof E by a space 'l adapted for use as an air conditioning duct. Interior spaced longitudinal partitions 8 define a central aisle. The spaces dened laterally by longitudinal partitions `8 and car sidewalls 9 are longitudinally divided in the following manner.

Lower room IIJ is dened longitudinally in the space by transverse partitions Il and I2. Adjacent to lower room iii, an upper room I3 is defined as follows. Transverse partition l2 and 'tomsL hollow transverse partition I8 form the end walls. Transverse partition I5, extends vertically less than half the distance from car iioor 4 to car ceiling 5, and extends inwardly from car sidewall 9. A short longitudinal partition I6, equal in height to transverse partition I5 extends between transverse partitions I2 and I5. The area bounded by the upper edges of partitions I2, I5 and I6, and car sidewall 9 is covered by horizontal partition I1. An elevated floor I9 at a lower level than horizontal partition I1 and at a higher level than aisle floor 3 lls the area defined by partitions 8, I2, I5, I6, I6 and car wall 9.

A second lower room 20 is defined by partitions 8, I8, and II and car sidewall 9.

The recess 23, defined by partitions I2, I5, I6, I1, and car sidewall 9 communicates with lower room I by means of a rectangular opening 24 in transverse partition I2.

The interior of hollow transverse partition I6 is divided vertically into recesses 25, 26, and 21. Recesses 25 and 26 communicate with upper room I3 by means of openings 28 and 29, in partition I8. Recess 21 communicates with lower room 26 through opening 30 in partition I8.

Upper room I3 utilizes horizontal partition I1 as a seat; lower rooms I9 and 20 are provided with transverse seats 3|. -All upper and lower rooms have seat cushions 32, hinged backrests 36 and a conventional toilet unit comprising enclosed hoppers 34, folding lavatories 36, cabinets 31, shaving mirrors 38 and shaving lamps 39. Luggage racks 4I are also provided in' lower rooms.

Openings 46 provide communication between the central aisle and rooms I6, I3, 26. These openings are closed by conventional type sliding doors 63 which are adapted to slide from the closed position into a recess in longitudinal partition 8. A partially recessed step 42 located beneath opening 40 into the upper room provides access from central aisle I4 to upper room I3.

Within each of the recesses 23, 26, and 21 is a folding bed comprising head section 41 and foot section 51. The head section 41 is formed by a headboard 48, two side rails 49 and 50, and a bot- When stored in the bed recess, head section 41 is in a vertical position, with the head- Yboard 48 uppermost, and bottom 5I against the partition, I2, or I8 which separates the bed recess from the room, with which it communicates.

A door 43 in opening-s 24, 28, and 29 forms a part of the bottom I of head section 41. Door 43 has flanges 44 and 46 on its upper and lower edges. A downward opening groove 52 is formed by flange 45, the lower edge Vof door 43, and b-ottom 5I. The lower edge 53, of rectangular openings 24, 28, and 29 ts into groove 52, and combines with it to form a detachable hinge.

A spring operated, manually released catch 46 of -conventional design projects through headboard 46, and engages the inner side of transverseV partition I2, or I8, combining with flange 44 on the outer side of door 43 to secure door 43 and head section 41 in the vertical or closed position. T-shaped handle 65, projecting outwardly through door 43 is rotated to release catch 46. The bed foot section 51 comprises a footboard 15, siderails 55 and 56, and a bottom 16. Foot section 51 is stored in recess 23, 26 or 21 in a nearly vertical position, with the footboard 15 uppermost. Siderails 49 and 50 of head section 41 are flexibly joined to side rails 55 and 56 of foot section 51 by hinges 54.

To the footboard end of foot section 51 are attached bearings 66, through which pass a cylindrcal rod 69. Guide followers 66, on the end of cylindrical rod 56 fit in and are adapted to travel vertically in the vertical grooved guideways 6I. Vertical grooved guideways 6i are secured to each of the sidewalls of the bed recess, adjacent to the rear wall of the bed recess.

A grooved guideway 64 is secured to car sidewall 9 and extends in a curve from the lower portion of the bed recess into the adjacent room, where it terminates in a short vertical slot 66.

A roller supported by bearing 62 at the hinged end ci the outer siderail 56, ts in and is adapted to travel in guideway 64.

A nat metal catch 61, having a slot 68 at one end, and pivotally attached to siderail 51 near its hinged end, is adapted to be manually engaged with a projection 69 on siderail 49 when the bed is in the extended position, as hereinafter described.

Spring bulers, generally indicated at 14 are provided and are fastened to theinner transverse wall of recesses 23, 26 and 21 immediately adjacent to vertical grooves 6l. Spring buffer 14 is shown in detail in Fig. 14, wherein channel 19 is shown attached to Vthe recess wall. Through a perforation in the flanges of channel 16 extends pin 1I, to the upper end of which is attached spring retainer disk 12. Compression spring 13, resting on theupper surface of channel 16 acts upwardly against spring retainer disk 12.

The conversion of rooms I6, I3 and 26 into sleeping rooms is accomplished by folding back rest 33 to the horizontal position. Handle 65 is turned, thereby releasing spring catch 46. Using handle 66, the operator pulls door 43 and the bed section 41 outward and upward. Bed section 51 follows bed section 41, its remote end being guided by vertical grooves 6I, and its upper hinged end by curved groove 64 until it reaches an approximately horizontal position. When bed section 51 reaches this position, the hinged end must be forced downward, thereby causing roller 63 to drop into vertical slot 66 at the end of curved groove 64, thereby securing bed section 51 in the horizontal position. When bed section 51 is thus secured bed section 41 is allowed to corne to rest in a horizontal position on the upper surface of downfolded back rest 33, as shown in Fig. 3. Catch 61 on bed side rail 56 is manually rotated until its slot 68 is engaged by projection 69 on-siderail 56, thereby locking bed sections 4i and 51 together in a horizontal position so that they form a bed extending the combined lengths of the room I6, I3 or 20 and recess 23, 26 or 21.

The rooms are converted from sleeping to sitting rooms in the following manner. Catch 61 on bed siderail 56 is manually rotated until it is in the open position as shown in Fig. 11. Bed section 41 is swung upward and lifted vertically until roller 63 is out of vertical slot 66. Spring buffers 14 then begin to act upwardly against the lower surfaces of bearing xtures 58, thereby causing the lower end of bed section 51 and guide blocks 66 to move upwardly in vertical grooves 6I. By pushing forward and downward on bed section 41, utilizing handle 65 as a handhold, the bed sections 41 and 51 will be forced into their stored position in recess 23, 26, or 21, and will be retained therein by spring operated catch 46.

While onlythe preferred embodiment of my invention has been described and illustrated herein, it is to be understood that the exclusive useis contemplatedqoi all .forms of the invention which come within the scopeof the'appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a railway car having a central aisle door, vtwo -lower4 rooms having a iioor level below said aisle lfloor, an uppei room having its floor level higher than said aisle door, said upper room be lng interposed between said lower rooms and having "end portions extending above an extremity of each of said lower rooms, and a bed extending substantially the entire length of each 'of said rooms, said beds being retractable respectively into one end portion of said upper room andinto the extremities of said lower rooms adjacent said upper room.

.2. In arailway car having a central aisle floor, spaced-longitudinal partitions defining a central aisle, Vouter walls, a roof, two lower rooms hav ing a licor level lower than the iioor of said aisle in each space defined by one of said longitudinal partitions and one of said car walls, an upper room having its licor level higher than the iloor of `said aisle, said upper room being disposed longitudinally between said lower rooms and having end portions extending above an end portion of each of said lower rooms, and a longitudinally extending bed in each of said upper and lower rooms retractable respectively into one end portion of said upper room and into the end portions of said lower rooms adjacent said upper room, said bed extending the entire length of each of said rooms.

3. In a railway car having a central aisle door,4 spaced longitudinal partitions defining a central aisle, outer walls, a roof, two lower rooms having va `iloor level lower than the oor of said aisle and `situated in the space dened by one of said longitudinal partitions and one of said outer walls, an upper room having its floor level higher than the iioor of said aisle, said upper room being disposed longitudinally between said lower rooms, Va iixed transverse seat for said upper room, the space under said fixed transverse seat forming a portion of the iirst of said 'lower rooms, a .hollow partition separating said upper room from the second of said lower rooms, an upper recess in said hollow partition forming a portion of said upper room, and a lower recess in said partition forming a portion of the second of said lower rooms, each of said lower rooms cointaining a fixed transverse seat, each of said upper and lower rooms containing a toilet and lavatory, and a bed extending the entire length -of each of said upper and lower rooms, said beds being retractable respectively into the space under said iixed transverse seat of the upper room and into said upper and lower recesses.

4. In a railway car having a central aisle floor, longitudinal partitions Adeining a central aisle, outer walls, a roof, two lower rooms having a iloor level lower than the floor of said aisle and situated ina space dened by one of said longitudinal partitions and one of said outer walls, an upper room having its Vfloor level Yhigher than the central aisle floor, said upper room being disposed longitudinally between said lower rooms, each of said rooms having a xed transverse seat, a single, transverse partition separating said upper room from the first of said lower rooms, the fixed transverse seat of said upper room being arranged adjacent said single partition, a toilet and lavatory in each of said rooms, the space under the 'fixed transverse seat of said upper room4 communicating with 'and forming aportlon or the iii-st of said lower rooms, ahollow `partltion separating said upper roomfrom thesecond of said lower rooms, 'an upper recess in saidhollow partition communicating with and forming a portion of said upper room, a lower recess in said hollow partition communicating with and forming a part of the second of said lower rooms,

`a bed extending substantially the entire length of each of said rooms, a bed in the first of said lower rooms retractable from the standing :and sitting area of said lower room into the space under the seat of said `upper room, 'a vbed 'in said upper .room retractable from the standing and sitting areas of said upper room into said upper recess in said hollow partition, and 'a lbedin the secondof said lower rooms retractable from the standing and sitting areas of said room into said lower recess in said hollow partition.

5. In a railway car, longitudinal partitions defining a central aisle having a floor at thecustomary level, outer side walls, a roof, two .lower rooms having a floor level lower than `the oorof the central aisle and occupying the space denned by one of said longitudinal partitions and one of said outer side walls, an upper room having its floor level higher than the floor of the central aisle, each of said rooms having a xed transverse seat, a toilet, and lavatory, the space .under the iixed transverse seat of said upper room communicating with and forming a portion of the first of said lower rooms, a hollow partition separating said upper room from the second of said. lower rooms, the toilet and lavatory oi said upper room and said second lower room being disposed, respectively, against said longitudinal partition and on opposite sides of said hollow partition. upper and lower recesses in said vhollow partition communicating, respectively, with said upper room and the second of said lower rooms, a bed in each of said rooms extending sub`stan tially the full length of each of said rooms, said beds being retractable, respectively, into the space under the ilxed transverse seat of the upper room and into the upper Vand lower recesses in said hollow partition.

6. In a railway car having an underframe lncluding a longitudinal center sill and spaced transverse members, longitudinal partitions deiining a central aisle, a floor for said central aisle supported on the upper vsurface of said underframe, two lower rooms each having a floor depressed between adjacent transverse members, an upper room having an elevated floor, said upper room being disposed longitudinally between said lower rooms and overhanging an end portion of each of said lower rooms, each of said rooms having a fixed transverse seat and a `toilet and lavatory, and a bed extending substantially the entire length of each of said rooms, said beds being retractable .respectively'into an overhanging and the overhang portions of each of said rooms.

7. In a railway car havingv a central aisle floor, two lower rooms having a iloor level lower than the central aisle floor, ian upper room having .a door level higher than the central aisle `iloor, said upper room being disposed between said lower rooms and overhanging an end portion of each of said lower rooms, a bed stored in 'an overhanging and the overhung portions of each of said rooms and extensible the full length of said rooms, and a iixed transverse seat at theopposite 'end of each of said rooms.

.` In a railway car having a central 'aisle floor,

two lower rooms having a floor level lower than .the central aisle floor, an upper room having a ving bed also having a second section hinged to the first section, said bed being extensible the full length of said room.

9. In a railway car, a central aisle floor, lower rooms arranged at each side of said central aisle floor and having their floor below said central aisle floor, an upper room arranged with its oor above said central aisle floor and interposed longitudinally between each pair of said lower rooms, a bed recess formed at the end of each room, said bed recess of each upper room extending above the bed recess of one adjacent lower room, and said bed recess of the other adjacent lower room extending below said upper room, and a folding bed enclosed in each of said bed recesses, said folding bed being extensible substantially the combined length of said room and saidbed recess and forming when enclosed a portion of the room wall structure, a toilet and lavatory in each room adjacent the end having a bed recess, and a fixed transverse seat in the opposite end of each roorn.

10. In a railway car, a central aisle door, lower rooms arranged at each side of said central aisle floor and having their floor below said central aisle floor, an upper roorn arranged with its floor above said central aisle floor and interposed longitudinally between each pair of said lower rooms, a fixed transverse seat in each of said rooins, and'a bed recess formed at the end of each room, said bed recess of each upper roorn extending above the bed recess of one adjacent lower room, and said bed recess of the other adjacent lower room extending below the fixed transverse seat of said upper room, and a luggage shelf for said upper room in the space above said upper bed recess, and a folding bed enclosed in each of said bed recesses, said folding bed ben ing extensible substantially the combined length of each of said rooms and its bed recess and forming when enclosed a portion of the room wall structure.

l1. In a railway car, spaced longitudinal par'l titions defining a central aisle, a central aisle floor, lower rooms arranged at each side of said central aisle and communicating with said central aisle, said lower rooms having their floor be low said central aisle iioor, an upper room conimunicating with said aisle and arranged with its oor above said central aisle floor, said up- `per room being interposed longitudinally between eachpair of lower rooms, and a bed recess formed at the end of each room, said bed recessY of each upper vroom extending .above the bed recess of one adjacent lower room, a luggage shelf for said upper room in the space above said upper bed re cess, said bed recess of the other adjacent lower 'room extending beneath the fixed transverse seat of said upper room, a luggage shelf in the bed recess end of each lower room, and a folding bed in said bed recess, said folding bed including a portion of the room wall structure and being' extensible to the combined length of the room and bed recess. I

12. In a railway oar, a central aisle, spaced longitudinal partitions defining said central aisle, a plurality of lower rooms arranged in pairs at each side of said central aisle and communieating with said aisle, an upper room interposed between each pair of lower rooms, transverse partitions defining said upper and lower rooms, said lower rooms having their floor below said central aisle floor, said upper rooms arranged with their floors above said central aisle floor, a transverse fixed seat in each of said rooms, a bed recess formed at the end of each room and communicating with said rooni, said bed recess of each upper room extending above the bed recess of an adjacent lower room, the bed recess of the other adjacent lower room extending below the fixed transverse seat of said upper room, a luggage shelf for said upper room in the space above said upper room bed recess, a toilet and lavatory in the bed recess end of each room adjacent said longitudinal partition, a toilet and lavatory in the bed recess end of each room adjacent the longitudinal partition, a luggage shelf extending transversely across the bed recess end of each lower room, a fixed transverse seat exn tending substantially across the opposite end of each lower room and a folding bed in each bed recess, folding bed including a portion of one of said transverse partitions and being exu tensibie substantially the combined length of room and said bed recess.

13. in a railway car, a plurality of lower rooms arranged longitudinally in pairs, an upperroorn interposed between each pair of said lower rooms, a central aisle iioor below the floor level of said -upper roorn, and above the iioor level of said lower rooms, a bed recess formed at one end of each rooin, said upper room and its bedrecess extending above the bed recesses of the two adjacent lower rooms, and a longitudinally folding bed in each bed recess, said folding bed comprising two hinged sections, one of said sections forming a portion of the rooin wall structure, means for extending each bed substantially the combined length of a room and its bed recess, and means for locking said bed in the extended position.

i4. In a railway car, a central aisle floor, lower rooms arranged in pairs at each side of central aisle floor and having their hoor below said cena tral aisle fioor, an upper room interposed between said lower roonis and having its floor above said central aisle fioor, a bed recess formed at an .id of each of said rooms and forming a part of said rooni, the end portions of said upper room extending above the bed recesses of the two adjacent lower rooms, and a folding bed in each bed recess, said folding bed comprising a head section and a foot section, said head and foot sections being stored vertically in each bed recess and being flexibly joined at their adjacent end portions, said head section including a por tion of the room wall structure, said folding bed being extensible substantially the entire length of each room and its bed recess.

l5. In a 'railway car, longitudinal partitions defining a central aisle, outer side walls, a roof, two lower rooms laterally defined by one of said longitudinal partitions and one of said outer side walls, an upper room having its Hoor at a higher level than said lower rooms, each of said rooms having a fixed transverse seat, a toilet, and lavatory, the space defined beneath the fixed trans- 9 verse seat of said upper room communicating with the rst of said lower rooms, a hollow partition separating said upper room from the second of said lower rooms, beds extending substantially the entire length of each of said rooms, the bed of the rst of said lower rooms retractable into the space beneath the seat oi said upper room, the bed of said upper room and said second lower roombeing retractable into said hollow partition.

16. In a, railway car having a central enclosed aisle, two lower rooms disposed at one side of said central aisle, an upper room, said upper room being disposed between said lower rooms and overhanging an end portion of each lower room, a folding bed stored in an overhanging and the overhang portions of each of said rooms, transverse partitions enclosing an overhanging and the overhung portions of said rooms from the sitting and standing areas of said rooms, a door 20 10 in each of said transverse partitions. said door being integral with one section of said folding bed and detachably hinged at its lower edge to said transverse partitions, said folding bed also having a second section'hinged to the rst section, said bed being extensible the full length oi said room.

FRANCIS T. BURGESS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,208,579 McCarroll July 23, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 374,713 France Apr. 24, 1907 

